Believe in Jesus Christ what it entails (part six)

5. BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD
The fifth important thing we all need to believe, is that Jesus Christ is the Begotten Son of God. This entails believing that He attained perfection through living a perfect sinless life in the flesh as the Son of Man, and became perfected at the resurrection, and became our resurrection and the life.
For the gospel which God promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding His Son, who as to His human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God, by His resurrection from the dead.
“Jesus Christ reflects the glory of God and bears the exact representation of His being, upholding the universe by His word of power. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the majesty in heaven, so He became as much superior to the angels as the name He has inherited is superior to theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You”? Or again, “I will be His Father, and He will be My Son”? And again, when He brings His first born into the world, He says, “Let all God’s angels worship Him” (Hebrews 1:3-6).
Jesus Christ as the Son of Man was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, but as the Begotten Son of God through the resurrection, He is crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
“For it was fitting that He, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. For both the One who makes men holy, and those who are made holy have all one origin. That is why He is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, “I will proclaim Thy name to My brethren, in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee.” And again, “I will put My trust in Him.” And again, “Here am I and the children God has given Me” (Hebrews 2:9-13).
Believing in Jesus Christ as the Begotten Son of God promises a much greater and guaranteed reward than believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of Man. Those who believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of Man has the gift of eternal life; but may not necessarily receive the reward of everlasting life. For it is written; “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. 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 3:14-16).
Unfortunately, it is not everyone that is able to differentiate the difference between eternal life, and everlasting life. I remembered back in 2008 when I first wrote an article defining what is Everlasting life, which someone informed me was discussed on AOL "America on line", someone commented on my blog stating, "Lucius one day you will say that the Holy Ghost and the Holy Spirit are not the same".
The crux of the matter is, Everlasting life is different from both the eternal existence of the spirit, and the eternal salvation of the spirit. It is the everlasting existence of the human body, which has a beginning and would have naturally ended, for it is appointed unto man to die, but it will be made to live forever. In contrast, eternal life has eternally existed, and will continue to exist forever. Eternal death is not the cessation of life as with physical death, but it is separation from God.
Everlasting life therefore, is the immortality of the human body which Christ alluded to by saying: s “Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is of born of water [flesh] and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).
In order for anyone to inherit the kingdom of God, the mortal must put on immortality, and the corruptible must put on incorruptibility, because Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God: nor does corruption inherit in-corruption.”
Everlasting life or immortality is guaranteed only to those who, not only believe in Jesus Christ as the Beloved Son of God, who became the Son of Man, but who also believes in Jesus Christ as the Begotten Son of God.
Eternal life on the other hand is a free gift from God, as we have been instructed saying: "But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:22-23).
Please note carefully that, the gift of God is eternal life; one has absolutely nothing to do to attain it, but to attain everlasting life one must first become a slave of God/ slave of righteousness which bears the fruit of holiness, a prior condition without which no one can see the Lord, which will  ultimately result in everlasting life.
This was further endorsed by the apostle Paul who warned us saying, "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" (Galatians 6:7-8).
Now in relation to the immortality of the body there are also different levels of glory. Just as there  is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.
Therefore, the degree of our glory is dependent on our level of belief in Jesus Christ as the Begotten Son of God, for we all, with unveiled face, are beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

To be continued.

Believe in Jesus Christ what it entails (Part five)

4. BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS OUR REDEEMER AND SAVIOR

The fourth important thing we need to know and believe about Jesus Christ, is to believe that He is our Redeemer and Savior, because He took our place in death by becoming sin for us. For, “Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed Him stricken (wounded) smitten by God and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.’

It is stated that, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way: and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Yet it was the will of the Lord to bruise Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the Lord makes His life a guilt offering, He will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in His hand. After the suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied; by His knowledge My righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities.’

“Therefore I will give Him a portion among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured His life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors, for He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:4-6;10-12).

Believing in Jesus Christ as our Redeemer and Savior entails that we that we were under the dominion of the kingdom of darkness, but God the Father delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

Now, having been purchased by His blood, we are no longer our own but should consider our body as the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in us, whom we have from God, for we were bought at a price; the price of Jesus' blood therefore, we are to glorify God in our body and in your spirit, which are God's.

This necessitates believing that while we were still weak, at the right time Jesus Christ died for the ungodly and that God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He took our place in death, and we are therefore convinced that, if one has died for all then all died, and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again. And so, having been set free from sin, we became slaves of righteousness

This is the liberty and freedom that the Lord has given us, freedom from the wages of sin which is death. For since He created everything and everything belong to Him, and lived a perfect sinless life, His death is sufficient to pay for the sins of all mankind, all we need to do is to believe and obey Him.

This then is the true definition of not being under law but under grace. Being under law, the wages of sin would be death, but being under grace, if peradventure we sin and confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness: And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Therefore, the instruction is, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin,” because whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.

Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. He who sins (transgresses the laws of God) is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3: 4-9).

For if by the one man's (first Adam) offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) Therefore, as through one man's (first Adam) offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's (last Adam) righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man's obedience many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:17-19).

This righteous act and free gift which came to all men is the Lord´s death paying the penalty of sin in our stead, redeeming us from the powers of darkness, His resurrection from the dead giving us a new life in the Spirit and giving His flesh and blood in the form of the bread and wine to eat and drink for the forgiveness of our sins. If therefore, we truly believe in Jesus Christ as our Redeemer and Savior, we will express and demonstrate this belief by practicing righteousness which is the keeping of His commandments, and practicing the act of righteousness which Jesus Christ performed for the remission of sins and glorify God in our body and spirit which belongs to Him.

To be continued

Lucius Joseph

A test of faith

Is there anything positive or constructive that a true believer in Jesus Christ should learn from COVID 19? Remember, we have been given the assurance and the consolation saying; “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8; 28).

We have also been given the responsibility to be light bearers and therefore, have been given the mandate saying, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain” (Philippians 2: 12-16).

I therefore, beg to ask the question, as a believer in Jesus Christ is there anything good and positive that can be derived from COVID 19? The answer to this question is absolutely yes: The good that can be derived from this pandemic is the “Test of our Faith”. For we have been admonished by the apostle Paul saying that, “our faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:5).

As believers the genuineness of our faith has to be tested as we have been admonished saying; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and un-defiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith --- the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1: 3-9).

We must also learn to profit from our trials as admonished by the apostle James saying; “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man supposes that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:2-8).

The apostle James further admonished us saying: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe --- and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:14-20).

The test of our faith is the choice between having faith in the power of God through Jesus Christ the LORD as our healer whom we have been admonished saying; “And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's” (Psalms 103: 2-5).

We have also received the assurance of psalms 91 which says in part; “Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, and see the reward of the wicked”.

Or, having our faith in the wisdom of men, in their proposed vaccinations which neutralizes, compromises and mutates our immune system and making it sounds as though their vaccinations are more powerful and resilient in combating sicknesses and diseases than the natural body guard we were born with to safeguard and protect our body and in effect assuming to be wiser and more powerful than the Creator who created us. The question is, how many of us will pass the test?

With brotherly love

Lucius Joseph

Believe in Jesus Christ as the Bread of Life

A believer believes Jesus when he said, “I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died, but here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live for ever, this bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John.6:47-51).

This statement was clarified and confirmed by Jesus Christ on the night before he was crucified when He took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to His disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” This covenant became effective after His death, for where a testament is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. For a testament takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive.

Therefore believing Jesus Christ also entails believing that He has given us His flesh to eat and His blood to drink. For thus He said; “I tell you the truth, unless you can eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink, whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.

Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever” (John.6:53-58).

This real food is the Lord’s supper, the food for His offerings which He commands saying; “ …See that you present to Me at the appointed time the food for My offerings made by fire (zeal) as an aroma pleasing to Me” (Numbers 28:2

The bread of life is the new and living way, and the better hope by which we draw near to God, this is the way that we are being reconciled to the Father, as it is written; “Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior; but now He has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight, without blemish and free from accusation” (Colossians 1:21-22).

The apostle Paul further endorsed this concept by saying; “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body, and since we have a great High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full

assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Sin no matter how insignificant one might think it is, separates us from God, and the wages of sin is death. Since the life of every creature is in the blood, God has given it upon the altar to make atonement for the soul; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul. The blood of animals could not clear the conscience and present the worshiper perfect, so now we have a new hope by which we draw near to God.

Believe in Jesus Christ what it entails (part three)

2.         BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF MAN

The second way we can prove our belief in Jesus Christ is to believe that the same Beloved Son God Who created everything by Himself and for Himself, divested Himself of His glory and became the Son of man, possessing the same human nature as other human beings.

It is stated that, “For it was fitting for Him, for Whom are all things and by Whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.” The reason for doing this we are told is; “For inasmuch as the children have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity, that through death He might destroy him who has the power of death, that is the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage” (Hebrews 2:10,14-15).

It was necessary that Jesus Christ should become flesh because as God alone He could not have died to save mankind since the wages of sin is death: He therefore, had to be made like His brethren in every aspect, in order to experience life like any human being and also, that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people.

For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Jesus condemned sin in the flesh by not succumbing to sin, and becoming a perfect sacrifice for sin.

As the Son of man, Jesus was tempted in all points as we are being tempted, but did not sin, and because He Himself suffered when He was tempted, He is able to help those who are being tempted. It is said that, “In the days of His flesh, He offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to Him Who was able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverent submission.

And although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and, once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him, and was designated by God to be High Priest in the order of Melchizedek” (Hebrews 4:15; 2:18; 5:7-10).

Believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of Man therefore, entails believing that as a man Jesus Christ also suffered for us leaving us an example that we should follow His steps. He committed no sin; no guile was found on His lips, when He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten; instead, He entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.

Everyone that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and may receive eternal life. As it is written; “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:14-15).

This Eternal life is Jesus Christ Himself Who is the foundation on which one may build his/her spiritual house, and the source by which one comes to know the one and only true God, and Jesus Christ whom God has sent.

Believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of Man is the way, the truth, and the life by which one comes to the Father, and the golden opportunity for one to choose the best indestructible material to build his/her spiritual house. This level of belief however will not guarantee everlasting life.

It is everyone’s individual responsibility to be careful on how he /she builds on this foundation, for no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. Therefore if any one builds on this foundation using gold, silver, or precious stones, his work which will be tested by fire will survive and he/she will receive a reward. But if anyone builds on this foundation with wood, hay or straw, his work will be burnt up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, only as one escaping through the flames.

God will give to each person according to what he/she has done. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who rejects the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.

Therefore, believing in Jesus Christ as the Son of Man entails believing that Jesus Christ experienced life just like every human being, tempted just as we are being tempted, overcome just as we are to overcome, conquered sin in the flesh, thus setting us an example that we should follow His steps and therefore, he who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Believe in Jesus Christ what it entails (part two)

Now, it is the same Jesus the Beloved Son of God Who delivered the children of Israel from Egypt and gave Moses His laws and statutes and reminded him saying; “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates: For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it” (Exodus 20:8-11).

We know with all certainty that it is Jesus Christ Who created all things, because we have received the following instructions saying; “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).

Then later we are told that, “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).

Therefore, it is Jesus Christ the Lord God of the Old Testament who created and established the Sabbath in commemoration of the His creation, reminded Moses to keep it holy, and reminded the Pharisees  that "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath" (Mark 2:28-29).

Therefore, the way one expresses and demonstrates his/her belief in Jesus Christ as the Beloved Son of God, is by following the proclamation given by one of the three angels to all those who dwell on the earth, to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people saying; "Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water" (Revelation 14:6-7).

The way the Creator ordained that every nation, tribe, tongue and people worship Him, is by observing His Sabbaths. For thus says the Lord; “You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:30).

The Sabbath is a perpetual sign between God and His people, a time which is holy both to the Lord and for His people, for thus says the Lord, “Speak also to the children of Israel, saying: 'Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you.” Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed " (Exodus 31:13-17).

Here we see clearly that the rationale or the objective for observing the weekly seventh day Sabbath is to commemorate the creation of the world and to express our gratitude and thanksgiving to God for His creation. And so we have been admonished saying; “ If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken" (Isaiah 58:13-14).

The Sabbaths is a sign to prove that the Lord is our God and the one who sanctifies His people. For thus says the Lord; “Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them: And, “I am the LORD your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God” (Ezekiel 20:12, 19-20).

The Sabbaths as a perpetual covenant is for both Jews and Gentiles since they are admonished to glorify God together with His people. For we have been admonished saying; “Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written: "For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, and sing to Your name." And again He says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!" And again: "Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!" (Romans 15:7-11).

Remember also that, there remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Now to confirm the fact that the Sabbaths were ordained for all, this is what the Lord says; "For as the new heavens and the new earth which I will make shall remain before Me," says the LORD, "So shall your descendants and your name remain. And it shall come to pass that from one New Moon to another, and from one Sabbath to another, all flesh shall come to worship before Me," says the LORD” (Isaiah 66:22-23).

Therefore, if we truly claim to believe in Jesus Christ as the Beloved Son of God, we should first demonstrate this belief by observing His Sabbaths and give Him the glory and the honor that is due to Him as the LORD.

Believe in Jesus Christ what it entails

There are many who may express belief in Jesus Christ, and no one can doubt their sincerity, but there may be the possibility that these people who truly believe in the person of Jesus Christ may not necessarily believe His mission, and His message.

Believing in Jesus Christ is more profound than simply believing in the person of Christ, He came to perform a particular work, in order to fulfill a particular purpose, and His coming to earth in the form of a man, offering His flesh to eat and His blood to drink, suffering, dying and paying the price for man’s sins, resurrecting from the dead and giving humanity a new life in the spirit, ascending to heaven and now seated at the right hand of the Father are all part and parcel of the preparatory work necessary to accomplish the real work itself, which can fulfill the infallible purpose which God had in Christ for man.

Believe in Jesus Christ is an ideology that has been professed and embraced by all in the Christian community, but what does it truly means to believe in Jesus Christ! What does it entails? To believe in Jesus Christ is to believe that He is the way, the truth and the life, and that no one comes unto the Father except through Him.

Believing this is the most important criterion of our salvation as alluded to by the apostle Paul who wrote; “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.” “Those who are perishing perish because, they refused to love the truth and be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, 10).

But what is the truth about Jesus Christ? In praying to the Father on behalf of His disciples Jesus said; “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” The truth therefore is Jesus Christ the word of God, who became flesh and made His dwelling among men, and we beheld His glory, the glory as the only begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and truth (John 17:17; John 14: 6; John 1:14).

Believing Jesus Christ who is the word of God that was made flesh and dwelt among men is to believe everything the scriptures say about Him, and what He accomplished, which can be subdivided into eight (8) intrinsic parts.

1.        Believe that Jesus Christ is the Beloved Son of God

The first important thing concerning Jesus Christ one ought to believe is that Jesus Christ is the Beloved Son of God, Who proceeded and came forth from the Father, and that the Father Himself loves us because we have loved Jesus Christ and have believed that He came from God.

Jesus said, “I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father. In His prayer to the Father He said, “And now, Father, glorify Me in Your presence with the glory I had with You before the foundation of the world” (John 16:28; 17:5).

To believe that Jesus is the Beloved Son of God is to believe that He is the Word of God, Who was in the beginning with God, and that all things were created by Him and without Him was not anything made that was made. It is to believe that, He is the express image of the invisible God, and in Him all things in heaven and earth were created, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominion or principalities or authorities; all things were created through Him and for Him, and that He is before all things and in Him all things exists.

Therefore, to believe in Jesus Christ as the Beloved Son of God is to believe that He is the One who from the beginning gave the following instructions:-

• "Let there be light"; and there was light.
• "Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and
• “Let it divide the waters from the waters."
• "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself on the earth."
• "Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth."
• "Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens."
• "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."
• "Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, each according to its kind";
• "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
• "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."
• "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food";

I made mention of all these simply to impress on our minds who exactly are we dealing with, when we referring to Jesus Christ, and professing to believe in Him.

Now at the end of it all we are told; “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made” (Genesis 2:1-3).

To be continued