Jesus Christ vs. Religions of the World - John 17:5
From the beginning of time, man has been saved by faith. Genesis 15:6 is the “John 3:16” of the Old Testament. “And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:6 KJV). Abraham looked forward to the Cross of Calvary; John 8:56 (KJV) says: “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.” Abraham is a believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he was saved by faith: “Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham” (Galatians 3:6-9 KJV): blessed by the Gospel! “What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:1-5 KJV).
Jesus Christ is from eternity past:
Psalm 110:1 (KJV): “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”
Psalm 41:13 (KJV): “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.”
Psalm 90:2 (KJV): “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.”
Psalm 93:2 (KJV): “Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.”
Micah 5:2 (KJV): “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
Genesis 14:18 (KJV): “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.”
Psalm 110:1-5: (KJV): “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth. The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.”
Hebrews 7:1-3 (KJV): “For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.”
Hebrews 7:23-28 (KJV): “And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself. For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.”
John 17:5 (KJV): “And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”
John 17:24 (KJV): “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.”
I Peter 1:20 (KJV): “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,”
Matter of fact, Jesus Christ virgin birth and proclaimed victory over Satan is documented in Genesis 3:15 (KJV): “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
God foreknew man was going to sin, God foreknew man was going to need a Savior, and God foreknew man would be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise. The Trinity plays a role in salvation:
God the Father predestined the Plan of Salvation: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3-6 KJV).
Jesus Christ fulfilled the Plan of Salvation: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ” (Ephesians 1:7-12 KJV).
Sinner man believes the Gospel of Salvation and the Holy Spirit seals the deal: “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14 KJV).
All religions have a start date: 1500 B.C. Hinduism, 500 B.C. Buddhism, 312 A.D. Catholicism, 630 A.D. Muslim, 1517 A.D. Lutheranism, 1830 A.D. Mormonism, and 1879 A.D. Jehovah Witnesses. Each one of these religions have a different process for salvation: some preach works for salvation, some preach follow commandments for salvation, some preach water baptism for salvation, some preach confession for salvation, some preach a combination of law keeping and water baptism for salvation, some preach faith and works for salvation, some preach money for salvation, etc. The question I have for all religions: “how did individuals get saved before that specific religion was created.” Each one of these religions has a process for salvation. Each religion is proclaiming they “figured out” salvation and anyone who died before their specific religious start date was “doomed.” Religion is flawed and for this reason, I would rather trust God than man: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man” (Psalm 118:8 KJV).
Jesus Christ has no start date, He is from eternity past to eternity future, He is the everlasting God. Why not trust in God that has “no beginning” and “no end” versus a religion that has a “start date?” The Gospel of Jesus Christ is timeless because it is the Everlasting Gospel: “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people” (Revelation 14:6 KJV).
If you have not believed, what is stopping you right now from believing? God loves you and has already died and resurrected to meet you. Believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, burial, and resurrection and receive the greatest gift ever which is eternal life. Eternal life does not start when you die, eternal life starts the very second you believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. Why not trust in Jesus Christ today for salvation. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” (John 3:16-18 KJV)
If you know someone who is not saved, forward this message to them and share the greatest gift that one could ever receive.
Lance Edminster
The Good News Voice
Email: thegoodnewsvoice@gmail.com
Once Saved, Always Saved -"And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." (John 10:28-30 KJV)